JP4405150B2 - Disposable absorbent apparel with improved appearance and lasting fit - Google Patents

Abstract

Absorbent articles having improved sustained fit on the body, improved appearance through the period of use, and improved comfort for the wearer. The absorbent article has a containment assembly, a waist feature and a diagonal support member feature disposed so as to lie in the diagonal support zone of the wearer's body when the article is worn. The diagonal support member is designed to support the article from the small of the back, over the hip, and to the lower abdomen. The diagonal support member is distinct from the waist feature, which is designed to provide only enough circumferential tension to hold itself in position on the body. The absorbent article has a garment-like high-waisted appearance, gentle tension around the waist to avoid discomfort and/or pressure marking, good leakage protection, good sustained fit, and easy application and removal.

Description

[0001]
(Field of Invention)
The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence briefs, training pants, diaper holders and liners, and sanitary garments. In particular, the present invention relates to absorbent articles that provide an improved appearance and / or improved dynamic fit that lasts during use.
[0002]
(Background of the Invention)
Absorbent articles such as diapers and training pants tend to slide down on the wearer's body, especially when the weight of excrement is applied. This relative movement can create a gap between the article and the body through which leakage can occur. This movement also creates wrinkles that cause the appearance of desirable items such as clothing to be lost. The design of an absorbent article typically includes a mechanism that is adapted to properly maintain the body fit of the absorbent article. However, these mechanisms known in the art are only partially effective in maintaining fit, tend to be uncomfortable to the wearer, and / or apply and / or remove items Making it difficult.
[0003]
For example, many absorbent article designs rely on a waist mechanism that opposes the downward force due to gravity by limiting the size of the waist opening. However, wearers of absorbent articles often have a protruding abdomen rather than a constricted waist. The waist edge of the absorbent article naturally slides down from its original location above the protruding abdomen to an oblique support area located across the waist and across the hip and across the lower abdomen. Some designs use friction to resist relative movement at the waist, and the waist mechanism provides the necessary normal force by creating circumferential tension around the body. However, when the abdomen becomes larger than the original size, the lumbar mechanism naturally seeks a place of low tension from the expanded abdomen. In this situation, the lumbar mechanism typically moves down to the diagonal support area because the article is restrained from moving upward. Even when the abdomen becomes smaller, the articles tend to fall because tension and frictional resistance are reduced. When the lumbar mechanism is designed to create a large force to minimize downward movement, the greater force can cause discomfort to the wearer and / or create pressure marks on the body. Many. The greater force also tends to move the article downward and / or makes it difficult to widen the waist opening to apply and / or remove the article.
[0004]
Some absorbent article designs include side panels or waist belts that assist or replace the waist mechanism. Examples of such absorbent articles are US Pat. No. 6,120,487 issued on September 19, 2000, and US Pat. No. 5,899,895 issued on May 4, 1999. These patents are incorporated herein by reference. These mechanisms tend to exert excessive force in body areas that are larger than other areas, causing discomfort and / or pressure marks on the body. Also, the elastic components tend to gather and / or slip together when moving toward a less stretched location, so that the force exerted concentrates on a smaller area of the body, causing discomfort and / or pressure. Often causes scars. Some side panels also expand and contract to maintain article contact around the wearer's legs. In some such side panel designs, the elastic component is angled with respect to the main waist mechanism, with one end placed on or near the front edge of the waist opening and the other end in the leg. It is placed on or near the rear edge of the opening. Such an elastic component, angled back and back, exerts a downward force on the front part of the article to move it away from where the absorbent article was originally fitted. Add to the other forces mentioned above.
[0005]
In some designs of absorbent articles, the front edge of the waist opening is curved downward to fit the lower or abdominal wrinkles. An example of such an absorbent article is described in US Pat. No. 5,358,500 issued Oct. 25, 1994, which is incorporated herein by reference. Because they initially fit in the region of the diagonal support area, these low cut articles often maintain a better fit than articles with higher waist openings. However, some desirable properties are lost in exchange for improving this fit maintenance. The risk of leakage from such a low cut absorbent article is generally greater, especially for male wearers who often have a urine stream facing the waist. The appearance of such a low cut article is visibly different from an absorbent article having an appearance like a durable garment or a garment desired by many users. Such low cut absorbent articles have a small area to place the absorbent core, and thus a given volume of absorbent core can generally be thick in such low cut articles.
[0006]
Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide an absorbent article designed to properly maintain the fit of the article on the body. It would also be beneficial to provide an absorbent article that has an improved appearance over the period of use. It would be further beneficial to provide an absorbent article that has a reduced potential for leakage. It would also be beneficial to provide an absorbent article that is easy to apply and / or remove.
[0007]
(Summary of Invention)
The present invention provides a diaper, incontinence brief that can provide some or all of an improved sustained fit to the body, an improved appearance over time, and an improved wearer comfort benefit The present invention provides absorbent articles such as pull-on diapers, training pants, and men's sanitary clothing.
[0008]
Such absorbent articles are intended to fit around the wearer's body and contain excreta and / or body excrement. The absorbent article includes a front waist region, a rear waist region opposite to the front waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the rear waist region, a front edge, a rear edge, a top sheet, A containment assembly having a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed at least partially between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent article also has at least one waist feature disposed substantially adjacent to either the front edge or the rear edge. Further, the absorbent article is at least one diagonal designed to support the absorbent article substantially within an oblique support area located on the body across the waist and across the hip and across the lower abdomen. A support member; When the absorbent article is worn, the first end of the diagonal support member is preferably located substantially adjacent to the rear waist region of the absorbent article, and the second end of the diagonal support member is preferably Located substantially adjacent to the lower abdomen of the wearer's body.
[0009]
The diagonal support member preferably supports a major portion of the weight of the absorbent article and resists downward forces caused by changes in body shape or dimensions. As a result, the lumbar mechanism has minimal downward force. Thus, the lumbar mechanism may be designed to provide sufficient circumferential tension to hold itself in place on the body to cause discomfort to the wearer and / or the wearer's Pressure scars on the body can be avoided.
[0010]
The absorbent article thus has a high-waist appearance like clothing, gentle waist tension to avoid discomfort and / or pressure scars, good leak protection, a good lasting fit, and application And can provide ease of removal.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION While the specification concludes with claims that particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter regarded as forming the invention, the invention is better understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to indicate substantially identical elements.
[0012]
(Detailed explanation)
As used herein, the term “absorbent article” refers to a device that absorbs and contains waste and / or body excretion, and more particularly, waste and / or waste excreted from the body. Refers to a device that is placed against or in close proximity to the wearer's body for absorption and containment. As used herein, the term “integrated absorbent article” forms an entity that is composed of discrete pieces combined to work in harmony, and as a result, such as separate holders and / or liners. This refers to an absorbent article that does not require any operating parts. As used herein, the term “disposable article” refers to an article that is not generally intended to be restored or reused after a single use, but is instead intended to be discarded. The term “diaper” generally refers to an absorbent article worn by infants and incontinent persons about the lower torso. The present invention is applicable to absorbent articles such as diapers, pull-on diapers, training pants, incontinence briefs, incontinence underwear, absorbent inserts, diaper holders and liners, and feminine physiological clothing.
[0013]
An exemplary embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention is a pre-closed, integrated disposable absorbent article suitable for use as a pull-on diaper or training pant, ie, the diaper 20 shown in FIG. A conventional, unclosed form diaper 20 is shown in FIG. The diaper 20 of FIG. 2 is also shown in FIG. 3 with the portion facing the wearer of the diaper 20 in a flat uncontracted state, and the portion of the diaper 20 remote from the wearer in FIG. Shown towards here. In some of the figures, portions of the structure have been cut away to more clearly show the structure of a typical absorbent article. Elements of the diaper 20 that are substantially the same in different embodiments and / or different views are represented herein by the same reference numerals.
[0014]
The diaper 20 preferably includes a containment assembly 22, a waist mechanism 34, and an oblique support member 200. The diaper 20 includes a front waist region 36, a rear waist region 38 opposite to the front waist region 36, and a crotch region 37 disposed between the front waist region 36 and the rear waist region 38. The periphery of the diaper 20 is defined by the outer edge of the diaper 20, in which the side edge 50 is located generally parallel to the longitudinal centerline 100 of the diaper 20, and the front edge 52 and the rear edge. 54 is located generally parallel to the lateral centerline 110 of the diaper 20 and extends between the side edges 50.
[0015]
The housing assembly 22 of the diaper 20 is preferably a liquid permeable topsheet 24, a liquid impervious backsheet 26, and an absorbent preferably placed between at least a portion of the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26. A sex core 28 is included. The containment assembly 22 constitutes the main structure of the diaper and has other structural parts added to form a composite structure of the diaper. The containment assembly 22 has an inner surface 23 that generally contacts or is in close proximity to the body when the article is worn. The containment assembly 22 also has an outer surface 25 opposite the inner surface 23 that is generally in contact with or in close proximity to any worn garment. The topsheet 24, the backsheet 26, and the absorbent core 28 can be assembled in various arrangements well known in the art. Exemplary containment assembly constructions are described in US Pat. No. 5,899,895 issued May 4, 1999, and US Pat. No. 6,120,487 issued September 19, 2000. Which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0016]
The backsheet 26 is the portion of the diaper 20 that is generally disposed adjacent to the garment facing surface 45 of the absorbent core 28, and the waste and / or waste contained in the absorbent core is the diaper 20. Prevents soiling items such as bed sheets and underwear that may come into contact with. As used herein, the term “arrange” means that an element of an absorbent article is placed in a specific physical relationship with other elements. In a preferred embodiment, the backsheet 26 is substantially liquid impermeable and can comprise any suitable thin plastic film known in the art including breathable films. Examples of suitable backsheet films are those manufactured by Tredegar Industries, Inc. of Terre Haute, Indiana, USA and sold under the trade names X15306, X10962, and X10964. Can be mentioned.
[0017]
The backsheet 26 can be coupled to the topsheet 24, the absorbent core 28, or other elements of the diaper 20 by any attachment means known in the art. As used herein, the term “couple” refers to either attaching the first element directly to the second element or attaching the first element to the intermediate element, which is attached to the second element. This means the mutual attachment of the elements of the absorbent article. For example, the attachment means may include a uniform continuous layer adhesive, a patterned layer adhesive, or an array of discrete line, swirl, or point adhesives. Examples of suitable adhesives include those manufactured by HB Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, USA and marketed as HL-1620 and HL-1358-XZP. Alternatively, the attachment means can include thermal bonding, pressure bonding, ultrasonic bonding, dynamic mechanical bonding, or any other suitable bonding means known in the art or a combination of these bonding means.
[0018]
The topsheet 24 is preferably disposed adjacent to the body facing surface 47 of the absorbent core 28 and is coupled to the absorbent core 28 and / or the backsheet 26 by any attachment means known in the art. be able to. The topsheet 24 is preferably conformable, has a soft feel and does not irritate the wearer's skin. At least a portion of the topsheet 24 is preferably liquid permeable so that the liquid can easily pass through the thickness of the topsheet. Suitable topsheets are porous foam, reticulated foam, perforated plastic film, or natural fibers such as wood fibers, cotton fibers, synthetic fibers such as polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers It can be made from a wide range of materials known in the art, such as woven or non-woven materials such as. If the topsheet 24 includes fibers, the fibers can be processed by spunbonding, carding, wet lamination, meltblown, hydroentanglement, or other methods known in the art. Examples of suitable topsheet nonwoven materials are manufactured by Veratec, Inc., a division of International Paper Company of Walpole, Massachusetts, USA, and P-8 There is something specified.
[0019]
Absorbent core 28 is substantially compressible, conforms to the body shape, is non-irritating to the wearer's skin, and can absorb and retain liquids such as urine and other body exudates. Any absorbent material can be included. The absorbent core 28 can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, such as rectangular, hourglass, “T” shaped, asymmetric, and the like. Absorbent core 28 is prepared by polymerization of ground wood pulp, cellulose stuffing, meltblown polymers, chemically stiffened or modified or cross-linked cellulose fibers, tissues, and high internal phase emulsions commonly referred to as “air felt”. Commonly used in disposable diapers and other absorbent articles such as absorbent foams, super absorbent polymers, absorbent gel materials, or any other known absorbent material or combination of materials Any of a wide variety of liquid-absorbing materials that have been used can be included. Exemplary absorbent core structures are described in US Pat. No. 4,610,678 issued September 9, 1986 and US Pat. No. 5,260,345 issued November 9, 1993. Both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0020]
The diaper 20 of the present invention includes at least one lumbar mechanism 34 as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. The lumbar mechanism 34 is preferably disposed at least longitudinally outward from at least one lumbar edge 56 of the absorbent core 28, and is generally at least a front edge 52 and / or a rear edge 54 of the diaper 20. Form a part. The lumbar mechanism 34 may include one or more separate elements attached to the diaper 20 and / or may include an extension of another element of the diaper 20 such as the backsheet 26 and / or the topsheet 24. . The lumbar mechanism 34 may be substantially inelastic, or may be elastically extensible at least laterally to dynamically fit the wearer's lumbar region. As used herein, the terms “elastic” and “elastically extensible” mean that a material and / or component can be stretched to a practical extent when tensioned and the tension is released. And the properties of the material and / or components of the diaper 20 that basically return to the original length or a length close thereto. Disposable diapers often have a waist feature 34 disposed in both the front waist region 36 and the back waist region 38. The lumbar mechanism 34 can be configured in any of several different arrangements known in the art. Typical lumbar mechanism structures are described in US Pat. No. 4,515,595 issued May 7, 1985 and US Pat. No. 5,221,274 issued June 22, 1993. Both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0021]
In the diaper 20 of the present invention, the lumbar mechanism 34 provides a generally minimal lateral force, i.e., sufficient lateral force to hold the front waist region 36 and the back waist region 38 substantially in contact with the body. Is preferred. This level of lateral force is sufficient because the diaper 20 is configured so that the diagonal support member 200 resists downward forces, so that the waist mechanism 34 is preferably subjected to minimal downward forces. As a result, the lumbar mechanism 34 generally remains where it was originally fitted, while retaining the front edge 52 near the navel 11 of the wearer's body. As used herein, the term “downward” means generally head to foot direction on the wearer's body in all body positions and postures.
[0022]
In some embodiments, the diaper 20 preferably includes a fastening device 40, for example as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures. The fastening device 40 preferably keeps the front waist region 36 and the back waist region 38 in an annular configuration so that lateral forces applied by the waist mechanism 34 and / or other elements of the diaper 20 wear the diaper 20. It contributes to the circumferential tension, sometimes aligned substantially parallel to the front edge 52 and the rear edge 54 forming the waist opening 21. The fastening device 40 is preferably at least partially disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the side edge 50 of the front waist region 36 and / or the back waist region 38. In general, the fastening device 40 can include any known fastening means. For example, the fastening device 40 may include surface fasteners such as tape-like laces, hook and loop fastening components, and / or hermaphroditic fastening components. Further, the fastening device 40 can include buttons, hooks, buckles, and / or other fastening components. In some embodiments, the fastening device 40 allows the diaper 20 to be opened and refastened for ease of application to and removal from the wearer's body and for adjustment while the diaper 20 is being worn. Refastenable fastening means may be included. An example of a suitable fastening device 40 is described in US Pat. No. 5,242,436 issued September 7, 1993, which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0023]
In some embodiments, the diaper 20 can be provided in a pre-closed form suitable for use as a pull-on diaper, training pant, etc., for example, as shown in FIGS. As used herein, the term “pre-closed” means a form of an article that is assembled and ready for use. The pre-closed diaper 20 may have opposing side edges 50 in the front waist region 36 and in the back waist region 38 joined by a seam or joint 42 as shown in FIG. The seam or joint 42 can be joined by any suitable joining means known in the art appropriate to the material used. For example, suitable bonding means may include ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, adhesive bonding, sewing, self-bonding, and the like. The seam or joint 42 may be permanent, i.e., in order to peel the bonded opposing side edges 50, it may require breaking or other destructive handling of the bonded material. May be combined. Alternatively, the pre-closed diaper 20 may be mutually fastened to the opposing side edges 50 by any suitable fastening means including those described above for the fastening device 40. In some embodiments, the fastening device 40 of the pre-closed diaper 20 can be applied to and removed from the wearer's body and for adjustment while the diaper 20 is being worn. There can be refastenable fastening means for opening and refastening. In embodiments where the pre-closed diaper 20 has a fastening device 40, the fastening device 40 is at least partially disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the side edge 50 of the front waist region 36 and / or the back waist region 38. Preferably it is done.
[0024]
The diaper 20 can also include at least one high friction retention area 70, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. The high friction retention area 70 is preferably at least partially disposed on the inner surface 23 of the containment assembly 22 in either the front waist region 36 or the back waist region 38. The function of the high friction holding area 70 is to resist the movement of the diaper 20 relative to the surface of the wearer's body, in particular to resist the movement of the diaper 20 downward. The high friction retention area 70 preferably has a coefficient of static friction for the body that is at least about twice the coefficient of static friction for the body of the material forming the inner surface of the containment assembly 22. The high friction retention zone 70 can include a coating zone and / or a patch of suitable material. Examples of suitable coating materials may include polymeric materials, rubber based materials, and / or latex or hot melt materials. Suitable patch materials are usually thin and flexible and can be firmly attached to the inner surface 23 of the containment assembly 22. Examples of suitable patch materials include polymer films, fibrous sheets, and / or scrims. An example of a high friction retention zone 70 is described in co-pending US patent application 09 / 312,997 filed May 17, 1999 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Incorporated herein by reference.
[0025]
The diaper 20 includes, for example, a side panel 30 disposed in the rear waist region 38, the front waist region 36, or both the front waist region 36 and the rear waist region 38, as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures. You can also. The side panel 30 can be configured in any suitable arrangement known in the art. The side panel 30 can be made elastically extensible. An example of a resilient side panel is described in US Pat. No. 5,669,897 issued September 23, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0026]
The diaper 20 can also include at least one leg cuff 32, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures. Leg cuffs 32 are variously referred to in the art as leg cuffs, leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, and / or elastic cuffs. Leg cuff 32 may be substantially inelastic or may be elastically extensible to dynamically fit the wearer's leg. Leg cuff 32 may be configured in any suitable arrangement known in the art, including US Pat. No. 4,695,278 issued September 22, 1987, and 1989 1 And those described in US Pat. No. 4,795,454 issued on Mar. 3, which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0027]
The diaper 20 of the present invention also includes at least one diagonal support member 200. Examples of the diagonal support member 200 are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and other figures. The diagonal support member 200 is designed to support the diaper 20 within a substantially diagonal support area 13 on the body. In FIG. 13 showing a partial side view of the torso 1 of the infant, the anatomical location of the oblique support area 13 generally crosses the waist waist 3 of the wearer's body, passes over the hip 5 and passes through the lower abdomen 9. Shown to be located across. The oblique support area 13 is angled downward in front of the body with respect to the waistline plane 17. In the partial front view 14 of the infant's torso 1, the diagonal support area 13 is shown to be located generally across the lower abdomen 9 of the wearer's body.
[0028]
The diagonal support member 200 is preferably arranged in the diaper 20 so as to be at least partially positioned in the diagonal support region 13 of the wearer's body when the diaper 20 is worn. FIG. 15 shows a partial side view of the torso 1 and the diaper 20 of the infant to be worn. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15, when the diaper 20 is worn, the front edge 52 and the rear edge 54 are positioned substantially parallel to the waistline plane 17, and the oblique support member 200 is oblique. Located substantially parallel to the support area 13. FIG. 16 shows a partial front view of the torso 1 and the diaper 20 of the infant to be worn. Referring to FIGS. 14 to 16, it can be seen that when the diaper 20 is worn, the oblique support member 200 is positioned substantially in parallel with the oblique support region 13.
[0029]
The oblique support member 200 has a first end 210 and a second end 212. The first end 210 is preferably arranged to be located substantially adjacent to the rear waist region 38 of the diaper 20 when the diaper 20 is worn. The second end 212 is preferably arranged to be positioned substantially adjacent to the lower abdomen 9 of the wearer's body when the diaper 20 is worn. The first end 210 and the second end 212 define a main diagonal axis 216 of the diagonal support member 200. The main diagonal axis 216 is preferably substantially parallel to the diagonal support area 13 of the wearer's body when the diaper 20 is worn. In various embodiments, the main oblique axis 216 can preferably be disposed at an angle greater than about 5 degrees or greater than about 15 degrees relative to the transverse centerline 110 of the diaper 20. Similarly, in various embodiments, the main oblique axis 216 can be preferably disposed at an angle of 60 degrees or less with respect to the transverse centerline 110, or at an angle of 45 degrees or less. An angle of about 30 degrees between the main diagonal axis 216 and the lateral centerline 110 has been found suitable over a wide range of wearer and diaper 20 sizes.
[0030]
The diagonal support member 200 can be at least partially disposed inside the formed diaper 20 adjacent to the inner surface 23 of the containment assembly 22. Alternatively, the diagonal support member 200 can be at least partially disposed outside the formed diaper 20 adjacent to the outer surface 25 of the containment assembly 22. Further, the oblique support member 200 can be disposed at least partially between the top sheet 24 and the back sheet 26. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the oblique support member 200 is disposed outside the formed diaper 20, but in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the oblique support member 200 is formed by the top sheet 24 and the back of the diaper 20. It is arranged between the sheet 26.
[0031]
In general, the diagonal support member 200 can be any suitable size and / or shape. The diagonal support member 200 has a width 218 measured substantially perpendicular to the main diagonal axis 216. The angled support member 200 can have any suitable width 218 to avoid pressure imprints on the wearer's body and to fit the body contour that generally defines the angled support area 13. In some embodiments, the diagonal support member 200 preferably has a width 218 in the range of about 10 mm to about 50 mm. A width 218 of the diagonal support member 200 of about 25 mm has been found suitable over a wide range of wearer and diaper 20 sizes.
[0032]
The diagonal support member 200 can comprise any material known in the art suitable for the purpose of supporting the diaper 20 as described above. The diagonal support member 200 is compliant and soft to the wearer so that it has minimal adverse effects on the wearer's comfort and / or visual and / or tactile perception of the user. It is preferable not to irritate the skin of the person. The diagonal support member 200 is preferably elastically extensible at least in a direction substantially parallel to the main diagonal axis 216, but may be essentially inelastic. Suitable materials for use in the construction of the diagonal support member 200 include the material of the topsheet 24, the material of the backsheet 26, the material of the lumbar mechanism 34, the material of the side panel 30, the material of the leg cuff 32, and the elastic strip. Materials used for other elements of the diaper 20 such as piece material. The diagonal support member 200 can include a single layer or stack of suitable materials. Such laminates can include, for example, nonwoven materials, films, formed films, scrim materials, foams, and / or strip materials. In some embodiments, the diagonal support member 200 can include a structurally elastic film web. A structurally elastic film web is an extensible material that exhibits elastic properties in the direction of elongation without the use of additional elastic materials, and more particularly, on May 21, 1996 by Chappell et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,801 entitled “Web Materials Exhibiting Elastic-Like Behavior” issued to US Pat. No. 5,518,801, which is incorporated herein by reference. . Also, the diagonal support member 200 can include incrementally stretched material formed by methods such as ring roll processing between meshed corrugated rolls and stamping with meshing platens. An example of incremental stretching methods and suitable incrementally stretched materials is described in US Pat. No. 5,167,897 issued Dec. 1, 1992, which is incorporated herein by reference. Cited and incorporated.
[0033]
The diagonal support member 200 is known in the art suitable for the material involved in the backsheet 26, the topsheet 24, both the backsheet 26 and the topsheet 24, and / or any other element of the diaper 20. It can be coupled by any attachment means. For example, the attachment means can include any of those listed in connection with the backsheet 26.
[0034]
The angled support member 200 can be coupled to other elements of the diaper 20 at least at or near the first end 210 and the second end 212 and / or any portion of its length or approximately the same. Can be combined in full length. Alternatively, at least some portion of the diagonal support member 200 is coupled to other elements of the diaper 20 and at least the first end 210 and / or the second end 212 are coupled to any other element of the diaper 20. It does not have to be. In some embodiments, the uncoupled first end 210 or the second end 212 of the diagonal support member 200 can have at least one diagonal support fastening device 240. For example, the embodiment of the diaper 20 shown in FIG. 2 includes a second end of the diagonal support member 200 that is coupled to the containment assembly 22 substantially adjacent to the lower abdomen 9 of the wearer's body when the diaper 20 is worn. And a first end 210 of the diagonal support member 200 fastened by the diagonal support fastening device 240 substantially adjacent to the rear waist region 38 of the diaper 20. In the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the diaper 20 includes a first end 210 of the diagonal support member 200 coupled to the containment assembly 22 substantially adjacent to the back waist region 38 of the diaper 20. And a second end 212 fastened by an oblique support fastening device 240 substantially adjacent to the lower abdomen 9 of the wearer's body when the diaper 20 is worn. The diagonal support fastening device 240 can include any of the fastening means listed above in connection with the fastening device 40 and / or any other suitable fastening means. The diagonal support fastening device 240 is openable and refastenable, and can easily adjust the fit of the diaper 20 on the wearer's body. Further, the diagonal support fastening device 240 can include unique indicia representing various possible fastening positions of the uncoupled first end 210 or the second end 212 of the diagonal support member 200. .
[0035]
In some embodiments, the uncoupled first end 210 or second end 212 of the diagonal support member 200 is threaded through a grommet, lace or ring structure 220 to cause the diagonal support member 200 to be drawn. Or it can be made available as an abdominal band. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the diagonal support member 200 is partially disposed between the top sheet 24 and the back sheet 26, but the first end portion 210 of the diagonal support member 200 is not joined. Instead, this uncoupled first end 210 exits through the grommet 220 to use the diagonal support member 200 as a drawstring.
[0036]
In some embodiments, the diagonal support member 200 can include a unitary structure that spans between the first end 210 and the second end 212. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the diagonal support member 200 is disposed outside the formed diaper 20 and extends between the first end 210 and the second end 212. Another example of an oblique support member 200 including a unitary structure is shown in FIG. 7, where the oblique support member 200 is disposed substantially between the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26 of the diaper 20. ing. In this embodiment, the trailing edge 54 is longer than the leading edge 52. Therefore, when the diaper 20 is worn, the side edges 50 in the front waist region 36 and the back waist region 38 are closer to the longitudinal center line 100 on the circumference in the front waist region 36 than in the back waist region 38. To position. In this embodiment, anatomically, when the diaper 20 is worn, the side edges 50 of the front waist region 36 and the back waist region 38 of the diaper 20 are substantially adjacent to the lower abdomen 9. Therefore, in this embodiment, the oblique support member 200 can have an integral structure that extends between the first end 210 and the second end 212.
[0037]
Another exemplary embodiment of a diaper 20 in which the diagonal support member 200 can have a unitary structure is shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, the side edges 50 in the front waist region 52 and rear waist region 54 of the diaper 20 are not substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline 100. Rather, the side edges 50 in the front waist region 52 and the back waist region 54 are substantially relative to the longitudinal centerline 100 so that they are substantially located within the diagonal support region 13 of the wearer's body when the diaper 20 is worn. Is angled. As shown in FIG. 8, the opposing side edges 50 in the front waist region 52 and the back waist region 54 are joined by a seam or joint 42 as described above in connection with the pre-closed configuration of the diaper 20. can do. In such an embodiment, the material joined at the seam or joint 42 can have the properties described above suitable for substantially constructing the diagonal support member 200. Alternatively, the diagonal support member 200 is arranged in the front waist region 52 and the back waist region 54 at least one disposed substantially parallel and close to the angled side edge 50 as shown in FIG. It can contain two additional elements.
[0038]
In some embodiments, the diagonal support member 200 and the leg cuff 32 can form a substantially unitary structure, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. For example, the elastically extensible diagonal support member 200 can include an extension of the material that forms the elastically extensible leg cuff 32. In another example, the elastically extensible leg cuff 32 may include an extension of the material that forms the elastically extensible diagonal support member 200. In such an embodiment, the substantially unitary structure forming the diagonal support member 200 and the leg cuff 32 may have specific characteristics at specific portions. For example, the elastically extensible integral structure may have a first elastic coefficient at a portion where the leg cuff 32 is formed and a second elastic coefficient at a portion where the oblique support member 200 is formed. Similarly, the thickness, width, material composition, and / or some other characteristic may be specific to a particular portion, despite being substantially monolithic to form the diagonal support member 200 and leg cuff 32. can do.
[0039]
In some embodiments, the rear edge 54 and the front edge 52 can have approximately equal lengths, so that the side edges 50 of the front waist region 36 and the back waist region 38 wear the diaper 20. The front waist region 36 and the back waist region 38 are substantially equidistant from the longitudinal centerline 100 on the circumference. In such an embodiment, anatomically, when the diaper 20 is worn, the side edges 50 of the front waist region 36 and the back waist region 38 are substantially equidistant from the navel 11 and waist waist 3 on the circumference. It is in. In such embodiments, the diagonal support member 200 can include two or more separate elements. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the trailing edge 54 and the leading edge 52 have substantially equal lengths, and the diagonal support member 200 is substantially between the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26. Is arranged. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the oblique support member 200 is disposed substantially in the rear waist region 36 and at least one front oblique support element 201 disposed substantially in the front waist region 38 of the diaper 20. And at least one rear oblique support element 203. The front oblique support element 201 and the rear oblique support element 203 are aligned substantially along the main oblique axis 216 of the oblique support member 200, and when the diaper 20 is worn, substantially in the oblique support region 13 on the body. It is preferable that the diaper 20 functions in a coordinated manner, that is, when the diaper 20 is worn, the diaper 20 acts in a coordinated manner like the oblique support member 200 having a substantially integral structure.
[0040]
In embodiments where the diagonal support member 200 has two or more separate elements, the intermediate ends 214 can be fastened together and / or coupled to and / or other elements of the diaper 20 as described above. Or it can be fastened. Alternatively, at least one of the intermediate ends 214 may not be coupled to any element of the diaper 20. As described above with respect to the first end 210 and the second end 212, such uncoupled intermediate end 214 of the diagonal support member 200 can have at least one diagonal support fastening device 240, and Through the grommets, laces, or ring structure 220, the diagonal support member 200 can be enabled as a drawstring or abdominal band.
[0041]
The oblique support member 200 preferably supports a main part of the weight of the diaper 20 particularly when the weight of the excrement is added to the diaper 20. Moreover, the diagonal support member 200 preferably resists downward forces caused by changes in body shape or dimensions, such as lower abdominal inflation and / or transition from sitting to standing. In order to support the diaper 20 substantially in the diagonal support area 13 of the wearer's body, the diagonal support member 200 preferably contributes to an oblique hoop force generally parallel to the diagonal support area 13. This diagonal hoop force preferably limits the diagonal circumferential expansion of the diaper 20, thereby preventing the diaper 20 from sliding down to a position substantially below the diagonal support area 13. The oblique hoop force can be any size suitable for the size of the diaper 20 and / or the size of the wearer's body and / or the associated material. In various embodiments, the magnitude of the diagonal hoop force is preferably greater than about 30 gram weight, greater than about 65 gram weight, or greater than about 180 gram weight when the diaper 20 is worn. Similarly, in various embodiments, the magnitude of the diagonal hoop force is preferably less than about 2000 gram weight, less than about 570 gram weight, or less than about 300 gram weight when the diaper 20 is worn. It has been found that an oblique hoop force of about 250 grams when wearing the diaper 20 is suitable over a wide range of wearer sizes and diaper 20 sizes. The magnitude of the oblique hoop force is preferably minimally affected by the wearer's physical movements, and is preferably minimally varied over the range of body postures the wearer takes while wearing the diaper 20. Accordingly, in an embodiment where the diagonal support member 200 is elastically extensible, the magnitude of the force exerted by the diagonal support member 200 is preferably that of the body posture that the wearer takes while wearing the diaper 20. The smallest change over the range.
[0042]
The diaper 20 of the present invention may also include at least one lateral reinforcement member 80 as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures. The transverse reinforcement member 80 preferably laterally reinforces and / or supports the containment assembly 22 in the region across the lower body abdomen 9. The lateral reinforcing member 80 preferably shifts at least a part of the force exerted by the diagonal support member 200 in the lateral direction when the diaper 20 is worn. The lateral reinforcing member 80 has a first reinforcing member end 81 and a second reinforcing member end 83. When the diaper 20 is worn on the lateral reinforcing member 80, at least one of the first reinforcing member end 81 or the second reinforcing member end 83 is preferably the second end 212 of the oblique support member 200. It is preferably disposed between the front edge 52 and the lateral center line 110 so as to be positioned substantially adjacent to the horizontal center line 110. At least one of the waist edges 62 of the absorbent core 28 can be disposed between the transverse reinforcing member 80 and the front edge 52 of the diaper 20.
[0043]
The transverse reinforcement member 80 can comprise any material suitable for the purpose of reinforcing and supporting the containment assembly 22 as described above. Suitable materials include those listed above in connection with the diagonal support member 200. The transverse reinforcing member 80 is preferably elastically extensible at least in the transverse direction, but may be essentially inelastic in nature.
[0044]
In the art suitable for materials associated with the backsheet 26, the topsheet 24, both the backsheet 26 and the topsheet 24, and / or any other element of the diaper 20. It can be joined by any known attachment means. For example, the attachment means can include any of those listed above in connection with the backsheet 26. The transverse reinforcing member 80 can be coupled to and / or its length at least at the first reinforcing member end 81 or the second reinforcing member end 83 or in the vicinity thereof. Can be joined along any part or substantially the entire length thereof.
[0045]
The transverse reinforcing member 80 can be at least partially disposed inside the formed diaper 20 adjacent to the inner surface 23 of the containment assembly 22. Alternatively, the transverse reinforcement member 80 can be at least partially disposed outside the formed diaper 20 adjacent to the outer surface 25 of the containment assembly 22. Further, the lateral reinforcement member 80 can be at least partially disposed between the topsheet 24 and the backsheet 26.
[0046]
The diaper 20 of the present invention can include an annular support portion 280 (not shown) that also includes at least a portion of the diagonal support member 200 and at least a portion of the lateral reinforcement member 80. The annular support portion 280 is preferably located at least partially in the diagonal support area 13 of the wearer's body when the diaper 20 is worn. The annular support portion 280 is suitable for associated materials, including those listed above in connection with the backsheet 26, in the backsheet 26, and / or any other element of the topsheet 24, and / or diaper 20. Any attachment means known in the art can be coupled. In some embodiments, the annular support portion 280 may be uncoupled, i.e., not coupled to any of the other elements of the diaper 20. For example, the non-bonded ring-shaped support portion 280 includes a lateral reinforcing member 80 disposed between the top sheet 24 and the back sheet 26, and an oblique support member 200 disposed between the top sheet 24 and the back sheet 26. In the embodiment of the diaper 20 including, the diagonal support member 200 can have a first end 210 that is not coupled, and the uncoupled first end 210 squeezes the annular support portion 280. It can exit through grommets, straps, or ring structures 220 for use as a string or abdominal band.
[0047]
The diaper 20 of the present invention can also include at least one side cover panel 300 as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 and other figures. It is preferable that the side cover panel 300 is disposed adjacent to at least a part of the diagonal support member 200 and covers a portion of the wearer's body where the diagonal support member 200 is substantially adjacent when the diaper 20 is worn. The side cover panel 300 has a minimal force transfer from the adjacent element of the diaper 20 to the diagonal support member 200 so that the function of the diagonal support member 200 is minimally affected by the force exerted by the adjacent element. preferable. Such forces may be due to changes in body shape or dimensions, such as, for example, abdominal distension and / or transition from sitting to standing.
[0048]
The side cover panel 300 can comprise any material known in the art suitable for the purpose of minimizing the force of transition from adjacent elements of the diaper 20 to the diagonal support member 200 as described above. The side cover panel 300 is compliant and soft to wear so that it has minimal adverse effects on the wearer's comfort and / or the visual and / or tactile perception of the user. It is preferable not to irritate the skin of the person. The side cover panel 300 may be elastically extensible in at least one direction or may be essentially inelastic in nature. For example, the substantially inelastic side cover panel 300 may include a premium amount of material that provides sufficient expandability, i.e., folds, crepes, and / or pleated materials, and other diapers 20 over the full range of body motion. The oblique support member 200 can be minimally affected by the force exerted by these elements. For example, the elastically extensible side cover panel 300 exhibits minimal contraction force to conform the material of the side cover panel 300 to the body contour and is not sufficient to substantially constrain the diagonal support member 200. Low count elastic materials can be included that provide sufficient force and yet provide sufficient expandability to transfer minimal force to the diagonal support member 200 over the full range of body motion. As used herein, the term “low count” refers to the material and / or element of the diaper 20 that has a low modulus of elasticity compared to the modulus of elasticity of other materials used in the diaper 20. Such low count materials easily stretch when tensioned and exert minimal contraction force during the stretched state. For example, such low count elastic materials may be suitable for materials having other ranges of elastic modulus, but with an elastic modulus in the range of about 25 gram weight to about 75 gram weight per unit strain on a 25 mm wide piece. Can have. As used herein, the term “unit strain” refers to an elongation under twice the starting length of an element having a starting length, ie, one unit length for each starting unit length. Point to. In some embodiments, the side cover panel 300 can include a structurally elastic film web and / or incrementally stretched material as described above with respect to the diagonal support member 200.
[0049]
Suitable materials for use in the construction of the side cover panel 300 include the material of the topsheet 24, the material of the backsheet 26, the material of the lumbar mechanism 34, the material of the side panel 30, the material of the leg cuff 32, the elastic strip material. The material used for the other element of the diaper 20 is mentioned. The side cover panel 300 can include a single layer or laminate of suitable materials. Such laminates can include, for example, nonwoven materials, films, forming films, scrim materials, foams, and / or strip materials.
[0050]
The diaper 20 of the present invention can include at least one front cover panel 400, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures. The front cover panel 400 is preferably disposed in the front waist region 36 and covers at least a portion of the wearer's body where the front waist region 36 is substantially adjacent when the diaper 20 is worn. The front cover panel 400 preferably has minimal downward force to transition from adjacent elements of the diaper 20 to the lumbar mechanism 34 and / or the front edge 52. An example of such a downward force is the weight of the diaper 20. By minimizing the downward force transferred from adjacent elements of the diaper 20, the front cover panel 400 compares the weight portion of the diaper 20 supported by the waist mechanism 34 with the weight portion supported by the diagonal support member 200. And preferably minimized. In some embodiments of the diaper 20, the front cover panel 400 is preferably disposed between the lateral reinforcement member 80 and the front edge 52. In such an embodiment, the front cover panel 400 preferably transitions the minimum portion of the weight supported by the lateral reinforcement members 80 to the lumbar mechanism 34 and / or the front edge 52, resulting in lateral reinforcement. The weight supported by the member 80 is transferred to the generally oblique support member 200 rather than to the front edge 52 and / or the waist mechanism 34. Downward forces on the front edge 52 and / or the lumbar mechanism 34 can also be caused by wearer movement and / or posture changes. For example, as a result of the wearer raising his arms and / or straightening the spine, longitudinal tension is generated in the front waist region 36 and a downward force is exerted. The front cover panel 400 preferably transfers a minimal portion of such downward force caused by the wearer's movement and / or posture change to the lumbar mechanism 34 and / or the front edge 52. The front cover panel 400 may be any known in the art, including the materials described above in connection with the side cover panel 300, suitable for the purpose of minimizing the downward force that transitions to the lumbar mechanism 34 and / or the front edge 52. Materials can also be included.
[0051]
The disclosures of all patents, patent applications, and any corresponding patents issued under them, as well as any corresponding published foreign patent applications, and publications mentioned throughout this specification are incorporated herein by reference. Incorporate. However, it is expressly stated that none of the documents incorporated herein by reference teaches or discloses the present invention.
[0052]
While various embodiments and / or individual features of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. . As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, any combination of the embodiments and features taught in the preceding disclosure is possible and may be a preferred implementation of the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the scope of the invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a pre-closed absorbent article of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an assembled feature of an embodiment of the pre-closed absorbent article of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a simplified plan view of the article of FIG. 2, with the inner surface oriented flat and facing away, showing various parts and structural elements, and with portions cut away to reveal the base structure. It is.
FIG. 4 is another simplified plan view of the article of FIG. 2, with the outer surface laid flat and facing, showing the various parts and structural elements.
FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an assembled feature of another embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention.
6 is a simplified plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 5, stretched flat and showing various portions and structural elements.
FIG. 7 is a simplified plan view of another embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention, stretched flat and showing various portions and structural elements.
FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of another pre-closed embodiment of the absorbent article of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a simplified plan view of the absorbent article of FIG. 8 prior to closing, extending flat and showing various parts and structural elements.
FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of an assembled feature of another embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a simplified plan view of another embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention, stretched flat and showing various portions and structural elements.
FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of an assembled feature of another embodiment of an absorbent article of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a side view of a portion of a trunk in an upright or standing posture of a wearer such as a child who can walk.
FIG. 14 is a front view of a portion of a trunk in an upright or standing posture of a wearer such as a child who can walk;
FIG. 15 is a side view of a part of a trunk in an upright or standing posture of a wearer such as a child who can walk, wearing the absorbent article of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a front view of a part of the trunk in an upright or standing posture of a wearer such as a child who can walk, wearing the absorbent article of the present invention.

Claims (10)

Navel, lower abdomen on the front side of the body, hip part on the side of the body, waist part on the back of the body, and a generally horizontal waistline through the navel in a standing or standing position on the wearer A flat surface and a waist constriction on the back side of the body over a hip part on the side of the body over the lower abdomen on the front side of the body and from the waist constriction on the back side of the body Absorption for accommodating excrement and body excrement by fitting around the wearer's body having an oblique support area angled downward with respect to the waistline plane toward the lower abdomen on the front side of the body An absorbent article, wherein the absorbent article is
a) Front waist region, rear waist region opposite to front waist region, crotch region disposed between front waist region and rear waist region, front edge, rear edge, side edge, longitudinal center A receiving assembly having a shaft, a lateral central shaft, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed at least partially between the topsheet and the backsheet;
b) at least one side panel extending laterally outward from the longitudinal central axis in the rear waist region beyond the crotch region extending laterally in the lateral central axis;
c ) at least one waist mechanism disposed adjacent to either the front edge or the rear edge;
d) have a first end and a second end, the absorbent article is extended in the transverse direction of the transverse central axis and said at least one side panel when the flat state unshrunk At least one diagonal support member defining a main diagonal axis that is not parallel to the edge , the diagonal support member being diagonally supported by the wearer's body when the absorbent article is worn When the absorbent article is worn, the first end is located at least partially within the region and is positioned closer to the lateral central axis than the front and rear edges. Located adjacent to the rear waist region, the second end is located adjacent to the lower abdomen of the wearer's body when the absorbent article is worn and more than the first end An absorbent article comprising an oblique support member positioned close to the lateral central axis .   The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the oblique support member is elastically extensible in a direction parallel to at least a main oblique axis of the oblique support member.   The containment assembly further includes at least one lateral reinforcement member having a first reinforcement member end and a second reinforcement member end, the transverse reinforcement member being worn by the absorbent article. Sometimes the front edge and the housing are positioned such that at least one of the first reinforcing member end or the second reinforcing member end is located adjacent to the second end of the diagonal support member. The absorbent article of Claim 1 or 2 arrange | positioned between the horizontal direction centerlines of an assembly.   The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the transverse reinforcing member is elastically extensible at least in the transverse direction.   And further comprising at least one annular support portion, the annular support portion including at least a portion of the diagonal support member and at least a portion of the lateral reinforcement member, wherein the diagonal support of the wearer's body when the absorbent article is worn. The absorbent article according to claim 3 or 4, which is at least partially located within the zone.   The absorbent article according to claim 1, further comprising at least one leg cuff, wherein the oblique support member and the leg cuff form an integral structure.   At least one of the first end or the second end of the oblique support member is not coupled to any other element of the absorbent article, and the uncoupled first end or second The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the end portion has at least one oblique support fastening device.   The containment assembly has an inner surface having a coefficient of static friction against the wearer's body, and the absorbent article is on the inner surface of the containment assembly either in the front waist region or in the back waist region. And further comprising at least one high friction retention zone disposed at least partially, wherein the high friction retention zone is at least twice the coefficient of static friction relative to the wearer's body on the inner surface of the containment assembly. The absorptive article according to any one of claims 1 to 7 which has a static friction coefficient to.   The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the absorbent article is closed in advance.   And further comprising at least one permanent seam joining at least a portion of the opposing side edges within at least the front waist region and the rear waist region, the permanent seam constituting the diagonal support member. The absorbent article according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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